Ultimate Love or Ultimatum: Bachelor Ep7
I’m sorry—it’s already the week before hometowns?!? How has this flown by so quickly.
This week, the women continue their Canadian journey® in Jasper, Alberta. DAISY unsurprisingly gets the first 1-on-1 date of the week, the second for their relationship. According to Bachelor Data, 90% of women who won their seasons had multiple 1-on-1 dates. When you break it down, yes, every date is time with the lead, but 1-on-1s are the dates the progress relationships the most, developing outside of the group energy. Have you ever been engaged to someone you only went on one solo date with? I’m guessing not.
DAISY was a fan favorite from the beginning, but disappeared a bit since the first two episodes. Joey even questions their connection before meeting, hopeful but not sure that he feels secure meeting her family. Getting the first second 1-on-1 solidifies her status among the group. It brings their connection back to the forefront of his mind.
It’s a classic horseback riding hot tub date. They talk about what kind of love they want, but not associated with each other. DAISY levels that she’s not in love with him yet “after only three weeks” of their relationship. He gives her the rose despite it all (or maybe because of it?)
“DAISY is worth it because of teh way she makes me feel,” Joey says.
On the group date, these lumberjills work out their anger on some wood. Everyone is understandably upset they didn’t get DAISY’s second 1-on-1, but they explain it as if they feel entitled to it. He reassures everyone of their connection, but he can’t promise everyone a rose.
MARIA lays out an ultimatum, wanting answer from Joey four weeks too early, almost surprised when he doesn’t chase after her. He wants someone who can love him despite the process and it’s only feeding into his insecurities that she doesn’t feel that way. She backtracks upon realizing he respects her choices and emotions enough to let her go. It’s a win for Joey’s maturity, but I fear this conversation has done irreparable damage to the trust in their relationship.
“You need to start believing that that could be you,” Joey warns. “I’m not going to be with someone that can’t see it and trust it.”
He doesn’t give out the rose, needing more time, conflicted about everyone.
The second second 1-on-1 this week is with KELSEY A., arguably his strongest connection. He makes a note to talk about the progression of their relationship and his feelings every time they’re together. That’s not nothing. They have consistent fun together. He appears lighter and less stressed. While the Bachelor journey® comes with a lot of understandable pressures and stresses, the woman who takes the lead away from that often gets ahead. Same as the woman who stays out of drama creates a stronger connection. I see her in the final two.
But they still have that emotional connection. Despite the fun and flirty “impromptu” polar plunge, KELSEY A. makes me cry talking about her family. Her mother died of cancer when she was younger, leaving her father with five kids to support while grieving his spouse. Joey wipes her tears away and gives her a rose.
I think being sure enough to give DAISY and KELSEY A. a rose but not decide between the other women says a lot about their relationships. I see DAISY and KELSEY as the final two. No question. The other women are interchangeable at this point. He has touching relationships with them, but not enough for marriage. I think Joey canceled the cocktail party because he saw this too.
ROSES: Daisy, Kelsey A., Rachel, and Maria.
It was a bumpy ride this week, but my hometown predictions from last week still stand. What changed? The emotion behind them. Is Joey’s attraction to MARIA enough to ignore her distrust in their relationship? We’ll find out next week…
